Dear Parents/Guardians,
Yesterday Governor Mark Gordon announced the recommendation for school closures across the state are expiring on April 30 and will not be extended. He further announced extended closures would now lie with individual school districts working in conjunction with their County Public Health Officer who will in turn work with the State Public Health Officer.
In order for an individual school district to re-open, whether in a limited degree this school year, during summer school, or for the 20-21 school year, the district would first need to develop a re-entry plan and have it approved by their local Public Health Officer and the State Public Health Officer. We have begun the process of working with our local Public Health Office to determine components of a transitional re-entry plan.
After preliminary conversations with our local Public Health Office, it is by the recommendation of the county Public Health Officer and State Officer that there is no plan for a return to school on a large-scale basis this academic school year. I am in discussion with the school board members to meet and show a recommended plan on a slow opening for only a few specific programs. We will continue with our present approach of providing educational services to students for the foreseeable future. There is a proposal the administration is working towards to invite a very small number of intentionally targeted groups of students to school on a limited basis.
Parents, please continue to work with your students in helping make sure they are staying engaged with their educational activities.
Students, please commit to finishing the school year in a strong manner by continuing to attend and participate in your classes.
Staff, please plan on finishing the school year under our current delivery model knowing there may be a limited number of you that may be expected to work with a small number of students on a limited basis.
We will continue to keep the health and safety of our students, staff, and community as a top priority. We will continue to work with our local Public Health Office in order to ensure any plans to return students and staff to school will be designed in such a way as to protect the health and safety of all involved.
Further communications will be coming early next week as more details are available.
Sincerely,
Jim Wagner, Superintendent
Johnson County School District